SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF SALMONIDS IN 2 PONDS IN NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA

Spatial and temporal distributions of salmonids were examined in Junct ion Pond, Northeast River, Placentia and Conne Pond, Conne River, Newf oundland using Lundgren multiple-mesh experimental gillnets. Both pond s contain populations of Atlantic salmon and brook trout with Junction Pond also possessing brown trout and resident Arctic charr. For salmo n parr there was a significant month effect in distribution of catch r ates in both ponds, and in Junction Pond, there was a significant diel effect. There was also significant variation in catch rates by lentic zone. For brook trout, there was a significant lentic zone x month in teraction in junction Pond; in Conne Pond, the main effects lentic zon e and month were significant. Highest benthic catch rates of Atlantic salmon parr occurred in the littoral zone of both ponds. Most captures of brook trout also occurred benthically in both ponds; similar to sa lmon parr, littoral zone catch rates were higher than those of the dee per benthic area in Conne Pond but the reverse was true for Junction P ond. For both salmon parr and brook trout, the deeper benthic area and the pelagic area were relatively important rearing habitats in each p ond. The distribution of catches for brown trout (few in number relati ve to the other species) in Junction Pond was similar to that of brook trout while Arctic charr were found mainly pelagically. Within the be nthic area, most Arctic charr were caught at depths beyond the littora l zone. There was a tendency for Altantic salmon parr and brook trout found in the deeper benthic area and the pelagic area to be significan tly larger and older than those in littoral zone in each pond. Sizes o f Arctic charr did not differ significantly among lentic zones. (C) 19 96 The Fisheries Society oi the British Isles